scientists in scotland say they ve solved the mystery of why people from the orkney islands, off the northeastern coast of the country, may be more susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer. it s all about a gene variant, which is already known to increase the risk of those cancers, being more common in people of 0rcadian heritage. laura goodwin has the details. people have lived here on the island of westray for many thousands of years. in part, the community s deep connection to their roots have helped scientists solve a 25 year medical puzzle. an increase in family history of breast cancer first noticed by the screening services in 0rkney. now a team of geneticists have come to the island to communicate their findings face to face. around one in 1,000 women across the uk have a brca1 variant. the study found one in 100 people with 0rkney grandparents have this particular variant. the historical nature of small island communities means there is some shared ancestry
for the gene due to herfamily history of breast cancer. she didn t have it, but hopes other women will be tested. orcadians are all over the world. this is a massive discovery and hugely important for the health of every individual in orkney, and the generations to come. there are other communities within the uk that have a known prevalence of brca gene variants, but identifying founder mutations like this is rare. women with the same variation have already been found across the uk and america, which means their roots most likely lead back to orkney. laura goodwin, bbc news. protests are continuing in france over changes to the retirement age. this is a road on the outskirts of paris one of the main orbital routes around the city. last night, french riot police used
the risk of those cancers, being more common in people of orcadian heritage. laura goodwin has the details. people have lived here on the island of westray for many thousands of years. in part, the community s deep connection to their roots have helped scientists solve a 25 year medical puzzle. an increase in family history of breast cancer first noticed by the screening services in orkney. now a team of geneticists have come to the island to communicate their findings face to face. around one in 1,000 women across the uk have a brca1 variant. the study found one in 100 people with orkney grandparents have this particular variant. the historical nature of small island communities means there is some shared ancestry and researchers have been able to trace its origin back hundreds of years to westray. linda hagan can map her own westray family tree for many generations. i lost my sister four years ago, she was younger than me, to breast cancer and an aunt, a well loved aunt who
what is going on in the hopes that some maybe further treatment or at least a recognition of what could happen if we carry the gene. karen scott has already been tested for the gene due to herfamily history of breast cancer. she didn t have it, but hopes other women will be tested. 0rcadians are all over the world. this is a massive discovery and hugely important for the health of every individual in 0rkney, and the generations to come. there are other communities within the uk that have a known prevalence of brca gene variants, but identifying founder mutations like this is rare. women with the same variation have already been found across the uk and america, which means their root most likely lead back to 0rkney. laura goodwin, bbc news. let s take a look at today s papers.
scientists in scotland say they ve solved the mystery of why people from the orkney islands off the northeastern coast of the country may be more susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer. it s all about a gene variant which is already known to increase the risk of those cancers being more common in people of 0rcadian heritage. laura goodwin has the details. people have lived here on the island of westray for many thousands of years. in part, the community s deep connection to their roots have helped scientists solve a 25 year medical puzzle. an increase in family history of breast cancer first noticed by the screening services in 0rkney. now a team of geneticists have come to the island to communicate their findings face to face. around one in 1,000 women across the uk have a brca1 variant. the study found 1 in 100 people